Ellie Goulding and a jungle: Inside her astonishing Eden Project gig

We doubt there are many (any?) places where you can go on an expedition through a rainforest and come out from behind the leaves to see a world-class act perform live, but that was the case at Ellie Goulding's headline set last night at Cornwall's Eden Project, described as 'the world's biggest conservatory'.

Taking place on a stage nestled between two sci-fi biomes - one hosting a tropical, green utopia, the other, a Mediterranean chill-out zone - deep in an abandoned quarry, the 'Eden Sessions' is one of the most unique live music experiences in the country.

In its 13 years, the concert series has welcomed acts such as Amy Winehouse, Calvin Harris, Mumford & Sons, Lily Allen, Jessie J and the Pet Shop Boys. Dizzee Rascal, Katy B and Skrillex have already performed this summer, while Pixies and Elbow are still to come.

But of this year's performers, Goulding's brand of boho pop makes her most suited to playing in what is essentially a massive hippy garden, all mock pagan flags and Wonderland hedges.

The onstage projections accompanying her set have a sense of flower power meets 2001: A Space Odyssey about them. Her outfit - which she described as 'elf imp bicycle shorts' - reminds us more of Poison Ivy, green strokes like vines snaking over a black transparent romper to protect her modesty.

She may have dressed for the occasion, but none of that matters if her vocals aren't up to scratch. Thankfully, Goulding is as strong as ever, even in front of a crowd way out in the sticks that likely would accept her on cruise mode.

We'd have to agree with comments from last night's audience that she sounded even better than in her magnificent Glastonbury set. Whether that was because of the Eden Project's much-praised natural acoustics, or the fact that she was clearly loving getting back to nature (something she mentioned to us numerous times), her vocals were more wonderfully strained than usual, giving them an appropriately earthy feel.

Goulding treats with her body as well as her vocals when onstage, knowing when to headbang and when to wiggle her hips. She starts off striding around the stage to 'Figure 8', before putting some bounce into 'Ritual', and then somehow manages to maintain that energy for the entire set.

Her moves may sometimes verge on awkward dad dancing, but they're born of genuine spontaneous excitement, which makes a nice change to the choreographed balloon-riding antics of Katy Perry, for example. She is 'organic' - yet another word that you'll probably see pop up in one of Eden's biomes.

As someone who grew up 'round these parts', this writer can assure you that having an artist of Goulding's calibre turn up on your doorstep is not something that happens often. It appears she knew this too, rattling through as much of her discography as possible - old and new, slow and quick, often by mashing songs together.

But that doesn't mean she treats her songs carelessly. Goulding slows things right down to allow four emotional big-hitters - 'Beating Heart', 'Your Song', 'The Writer' and 'Explosions' - to make their mark, before 'My Blood' kicks off an extraordinary country rave to accompany bangers 'Anything Could Happen', 'I Need Your Love' and 'Lights'.

All the Goulding gig staples - her sporadic larking about on the drums and guitar solos in 'Guns and Horses' and set closer 'Burn' - are in place too.

Some might call her set samey with all the box-ticking going on, but the impression we got was that last night's gig was about bringing the quintessential Ellie Goulding experience to people who might not experience her again.

Though after seeing a naturally talented musician have the best brought out of her by a naturally beautiful venue, we imagine many will seek her out once more.

The Eden Project's 'Eden Sessions' continue tonight (July 9) with Pixies. Elbow will play on July 14 and 15. More information at http://www.edensessions.com.